Honda, Harley-Davidson release 2011 sales numbers

Honda’s 2011 sales numbers took a drop from 2010, thanks to a slide in overseas sales.

Overall, Honda’s sales numbers were at 91 per cent of 2010’s figures – they sold 16,303,000 bikes globally, down from 2010’s 17,959,000 sales record.

Although Honda’s Japanese sales were at 112 per cent of their 2010 numbers – 219,000, up from 196,000 – their North American numbers were at only 97 per cent, and their sales in Asia and Oceania were at only 86 per cent of 2010 levels.

North American sales slid from 192,000 to 186,000, and sales in Asia and Oceania dropped to 12,364 from 14,385 – which had been a record-setting year.

Honda saw growth in South America and China, whose sales were at 119 per cent and 102 per cent, respectively. That works out to 1,949,000 bikes sold in South America, a record-setting year, up from 1,640,000 in 2010, and 1,306,000 bikes sold in China, up from 1,285,000.

Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, also saw growth, up to 276,000 from 258,000. That puts 2011 sales for the region at 107% of 2010 sales.

Honda’s production remained at 190,000 motorcycles in Japan for 2011, same as 2010, but dropped to 16,569,000 globally, 92% of 2010’s record-setting 17,923,000 motorcycles.

Meanwhile, Harley-Davidson’s financial picture continues to improve, with sales growth again in 2011.

While the Bar and Shield company looked like they were on pretty shaky financial ground in recent years, they’ve made a comeback. The company says they sold 235,188 units worldwide in 2011, up from 222,110 in 2010. Those 2011 numbers boil down to 151,683 bikes sold in the U.S. and 83,505 sold worldwide.

Those sales added up to $4.6 billion in revenue in 2011, up from $4.1 billion in 2010, good for  11.6 per cent growth.

Harley-Davidson says they expect further growth in 2012. They hope to sell 240,000 to 245,000 motorcycles worldwide.